Aura nails are the gradient design that’s slowly but surely overpowering the tried-and-true ombré. “Aura nails focus on a central glow effect, while ombré nails focus on a smooth color transition,” says nail content creator Dayanna Issey Sapiens. It’s a refreshing and modern design that adds soft, yet statement-making interest to any manicure.
“Aura nails mimic the appearance of an aura or energy field, usually featuring a radiant glow or halo effect around the center of the nail,” says Sapiens. “This can resemble the way light diffuses outward from a central point. Incorporating auras into my nails looks is super fun, the combinations are endless!”
Considering the look? Browse the 20 stunning aura manicures below to try at home or in the salon.
Pink French Tips
Add interest to a colorful French tip design with an aura that sits just below the nail’s smile line. “I love doing an aura in the center of the nail with a light color and then a bright French tip to add a little something,” says Sapiens, who created this look.
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Pink Auras
Bright neon pink pops in the center of a nude, semi-sheer polish. It’s topped with silver stars and sparkly gem accents for a celestial vibe.
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Aura Accents
Instead of making your entire mani aura-themed, opt for aura accents. This 3D flower nail design is enhanced by hints of blown-out pink blobs.
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Pastels
This opaque aura nail look features shades of pink, green, orange, and blue. They’re topped with clear 3D gel to add texture and movement to the look.
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Orange Accent
This mix-and-match mani features one orange aura accent nail, adding a whimsical touch to the design.
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Seeing Double
This look is aura 2.0—featuring two shades in the aura design instead of the usual one. It’s topped off with a shimmery silver top coat for added dimension.
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Chrome Pink
This design draws in the eye with its hot pink aura on a milky white finish that’s topped with pink chrome.
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Neon
This aura design makes use of bold neon shades for a vibrant manicure. It’s topped with gold chrome accents.
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Blushing
Instead of spreading the aura to run the length of the nail, this design keeps it concentrated in a circle at the center. It looks as if each nail is blushing.
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Rainbow Glow
A rainbow mix of chrome auras makes this manicure especially stunning. It’s topped with white stars to enhance the look’s otherworldly vibes.
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Abstract
Aura nails are the perfect accent to ground an intricate nail design. On the nails that don’t feature an abstract blend of shapes, lines, and dots, aura nails serve as a breath of fresh air.
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Vampire Vibes
Get moody with your aura look by making the base a deeper shade than the aura.
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On the Other Hand
This fun use of color features pink auras on one hand and yellow auras on the other. They’re tied together with an abstract collection of white lines.
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Negative Space
This aura look focuses on the outline of the aura rather than the aura itself. By using an airbrush to create blown-out circular shapes, the eye fills in the center, creating a reverse aura look.
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XXL Aura
Auras are a great way to fill space on super-long nails. And in the case of this design, they also add softens to contrast the nail’s sharp square edges.
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Lover
A bright candy pink serves as the base for a pretty pink and orange aura. For even more detail, a few of the nails showcase an air-brushed heart.
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Shimmer Aura
Pearlescent shades of brown and ivory were used in this look to create an aura design. It’s topped with 3D gel, gold metallic decals, and gold chrome powder to solidify its regal vibes.
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Creamsicle
This design is all about orange. Every nail, whether it has a plain nude base or a French tip, features some sort of orange aura. It’s topped with pretty silver chrome, embellishments.
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White Aura
While auras are usually a way to add pops of color, they can also be neutral. This design uses white auras to brighten each nail.
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Blues
Auras are a great way to achieve a monochromatic look. Consider this design, which features a sky-blue base topped with a cerulean aura.
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